Monday, 29 January 2018

Homwork : Meet the blockheads (Questions)



Guardian article:


1:According to the writer why autistic children such as his son might be attracted to Mine craft?

Autistic children are more likely to be attracted to Mine craft firstly, because it has become a way in which parents can communicate with their autistic children. Secondly, Mine craft becomes a topic of discussion between parents and children, it allows the child to expand their vocabulary in a simple way. Thirdly, the game decreases fear and anxiousness in the autistic child e.g. an autistic child making a plan of the school he is about to join , making him comfortable with the real setting of the school. Therefore, Mine craft attracts autistic children as it allows them to establish simple relationships not only with their family members, but also friends and teachers.

 

2: Which features are included in the education version of Mine craft and how useful do you think they might be as an educational tool?

The education version in Mine craft allows teachers to set up a classroom server, where students can build scale models of their own towns. This leads to children learning about various subjects such as geography, agriculture, architecture and physics. I think that this version is quite useful as it allows students to learn through visuals, particularly beneficial for autistic children as they have difficulties learning and developing their vocabulary. The education version makes tasks in class very straight forward for all children, allowing everyone to enjoy and participate fully in lessons.

 

3: Why, does Bergsten suggest have copycat versions of Mine craft been less successful?

Clone versions of the game have been unsuccessful as they tend to add a lot more visual information, resulting in Mine craft losing its simplicity. It also limits the child’s imagination whereas the original version of the game allows the player to fill their world with their imagination and creativeness. The children need to ‘feel it’s their game’, they must have that sense of ownership for it to be successful, according to Bergsten.

 

4: What is meant by the ‘modding’ (modify) community?

The modding community refers to the highly customised versions that can be added to Mine craft. It allows players to download various files to Mine craft and have a version of the game in which it is set e.g. space, middle earth. Minecraft designs and shares its own texture maps, items, creatures , making them available online for players to purchase.

 

5:How important is the ‘sense of ownership’ cited by Bergsten , for the audience of Minecraft?

The ‘sense of ownership’ is vital in Minecraft. It allows the player to have complete control over their game, their world. This means that the player can do whatever they wish to their world, there are no limits and no restrictions that exist for them. Players make their own rules , own instructions , own structures , own ways to interact with others. The sense of ownership makes them the rules of their game and their world, which is a very significant part of Mine craft.


6: How has mine craft extended its brand beyond gaming into other products?
Various products are available , merchandise. A movie is being made based on Mine craft.

Homwork : Meet the blockheads (Questions)



Guardian article:


1:According to the writer why autistic children such as his son might be attracted to Mine craft?

Autistic children are more likely to be attracted to Mine craft firstly, because it has become a way in which parents can communicate with their autistic children. Secondly, Mine craft becomes a topic of discussion between parents and children, it allows the child to expand their vocabulary in a simple way. Thirdly, the game decreases fear and anxiousness in the autistic child e.g. an autistic child making a plan of the school he is about to join , making him comfortable with the real setting of the school. Therefore, Mine craft attracts autistic children as it allows them to establish simple relationships not only with their family members, but also friends and teachers.

 

2: Which features are included in the education version of Mine craft and how useful do you think they might be as an educational tool?

The education version in Mine craft allows teachers to set up a classroom server, where students can build scale models of their own towns. This leads to children learning about various subjects such as geography, agriculture, architecture and physics. I think that this version is quite useful as it allows students to learn through visuals, particularly beneficial for autistic children as they have difficulties learning and developing their vocabulary. The education version makes tasks in class very straight forward for all children, allowing everyone to enjoy and participate fully in lessons.

 

3: Why, does Bergsten suggest have copycat versions of Mine craft been less successful?

Clone versions of the game have been unsuccessful as they tend to add a lot more visual information, resulting in Mine craft losing its simplicity. It also limits the child’s imagination whereas the original version of the game allows the player to fill their world with their imagination and creativeness. The children need to ‘feel it’s their game’, they must have that sense of ownership for it to be successful, according to Bergsten.

 

4: What is meant by the ‘modding’ (modify) community?

The modding community refers to the highly customised versions that can be added to Mine craft. It allows players to download various files to Mine craft and have a version of the game in which it is set e.g. space, middle earth. Minecraft designs and shares its own texture maps, items, creatures , making them available online for players to purchase.

 

5:How important is the ‘sense of ownership’ cited by Bergsten , for the audience of Minecraft?

The ‘sense of ownership’ is vital in Minecraft. It allows the player to have complete control over their game, their world. This means that the player can do whatever they wish to their world, there are no limits and no restrictions that exist for them. Players make their own rules , own instructions , own structures , own ways to interact with others. The sense of ownership makes them the rules of their game and their world, which is a very significant part of Mine craft.


6: How has mine craft extended its brand beyond gaming into other products?
Various products are available , merchandise. A movie is being made based on Mine craft.

Monday, 15 January 2018

Newspaper and politics

Newspapers + Politics
allowed to say what party they support , openly support + criticise
Press freedom - Moodle 
left wing ~+ right wing = what people think a country should do for citizens


left wing =
look to future , support those who cannot support themselves , NHS and job seekers allowance = fundamentally left wing ideas
they believe in equality + freedom for all
should pay tax
have left wing agenda , traditionally
parties = labour , green party


right wing =
should not pay a huge amount of tax = less money to pay for good schooling , healthcare , benefits
believe = survival of the fittest , economic freedom
businesses shouldn't be regulated = people should look after themselves
they shouldn't have to pay for someone else's education + health service
parties = conservative/Tory party UKIP (focus on UK not being part of European union)


The centre = liberal democrats
have some left + right wing members
diagram on moodle


Daily mail = right wing
guardian = left wing




























































Daily mail :

This headline supports right wing ideas. David Cameron was the UK's prime minister until 2016 , and the newspaper uses his political position to present their ideas. As a right wing newspaper , the daily mail are against tax rise and this can be seen in their headline. Cameron is a prominent figure of the conservative party therefore the use of his name will attract attention.


Image result for daily mail tax





The Guardian:

Image result for the guardian  tax

As a left wing newspaper , the Guardian are against paying tax. They use Cameron's name to present their political views. They give the message that the reason that Cameron is against tax is because he benefits from avoiding paying it. Cameron's face suggests guilt and shame , and this a tool used by the Guardian to make individuals support left wing ideas. As Cameron was the conservative leader the guardian will be critical of him and this can be seen in this headline.


  • UK press largely right wing
  • run by small group of right wing media moguls
  • 5/8 national newspapers = right wing e.g. Daily Mail , Daily Express The sun
  • Daily mail = Britain's most right wing newspaper
  • Guardian = Britain's most left wing newspaper
  • power without responsibility = having power without doing things the right way




















































Newspaper and politics

Newspapers + Politics
allowed to say what party they support , openly support + criticise
Press freedom - Moodle 
left wing ~+ right wing = what people think a country should do for citizens


left wing =
look to future , support those who cannot support themselves , NHS and job seekers allowance = fundamentally left wing ideas
they believe in equality + freedom for all
should pay tax
have left wing agenda , traditionally
parties = labour , green party


right wing =
should not pay a huge amount of tax = less money to pay for good schooling , healthcare , benefits
believe = survival of the fittest , economic freedom
businesses shouldn't be regulated = people should look after themselves
they shouldn't have to pay for someone else's education + health service
parties = conservative/Tory party UKIP (focus on UK not being part of European union)


The centre = liberal democrats
have some left + right wing members
diagram on moodle


Daily mail = right wing
guardian = left wing




























































Daily mail :

This headline supports right wing ideas. David Cameron was the UK's prime minister until 2016 , and the newspaper uses his political position to present their ideas. As a right wing newspaper , the daily mail are against tax rise and this can be seen in their headline. Cameron is a prominent figure of the conservative party therefore the use of his name will attract attention.


Image result for daily mail tax





The Guardian:

Image result for the guardian  tax

As a left wing newspaper , the Guardian are against paying tax. They use Cameron's name to present their political views. They give the message that the reason that Cameron is against tax is because he benefits from avoiding paying it. Cameron's face suggests guilt and shame , and this a tool used by the Guardian to make individuals support left wing ideas. As Cameron was the conservative leader the guardian will be critical of him and this can be seen in this headline.


  • UK press largely right wing
  • run by small group of right wing media moguls
  • 5/8 national newspapers = right wing e.g. Daily Mail , Daily Express The sun
  • Daily mail = Britain's most right wing newspaper
  • Guardian = Britain's most left wing newspaper
  • power without responsibility = having power without doing things the right way




















































HW - News Question 3

Explain how the political context in which newspapers are produced, influences their ownership and regulation. Refer to The Guardian and...